2012 Best Drummer: Shane Haberstroh (Mark Monaco Band)

Shane Haberstroh (Mark Monaco Band)

What does a metalhead drummer do in San Antonio? Play country and Latin styles, of course. According to the Current's readers, the fluid and versatile Shane Haberstroh (of edgy southern rock homeboys the Mark Monaco Band) is San Antonio's best drummer. He helps give the band its hard-rock feel in his current role, but also weaves together diverse techniques in response to the band's ranging style.

"Imagine Stone Temple Pilots mixed with Willie Nelson," he says, "but with Latin grooves threaded into songs." Haberstroh first picked up the sticks at age 10. The Lubbock-born musician cites John Bonham as his fountainhead influence, but also likes his drumming "heavy with some jazzy twists" and names Stewart Copeland and Steve Gadd as personal heroes. A traditional acoustic kit grounds his performances, but has a conga sitting on his left and incorporated electronic triggers to create the shakers and cowbells found in Latin music.

"What I like about Mark's band is it's not straight country," he says, "It's got rock, some jazz flavor, and a Latin feel. It flows like improv: no two shows are the same."

2. Cody Gilliland (Immortal Guardian)
3. Eric Sandoval (The Grasshopper Lies Heavy)